Posts by Madeleine Muzdakis

Madeleine Muzdakis

Madeleine Muzdakis is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and a historian of early modern Britain & the Atlantic world. She holds a BA in History and Mathematics from Brown University and an MA in European & Russian Studies from Yale University. Madeleine has worked in archives and museums for years with a particular focus on photography and arts education. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, film photography, and studying law while cuddling with her cat Georgia.
Impressionism
February 25, 2021

Mystery of the Secret Message Written on Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream’ Finally Solved

Etched into the paint of one of the most famous paintings in the world, a haunting eight-word sentence has been a mystery to art historians for over a century. In 1904, a Danish art critic peering at Edvard Munch‘s The Scream noticed graffiti along the rolling clouds of the blood-red sunset. The sentence reads, “Can only have been painted by a madman.

Read Article

Impressionism
February 20, 2021

Who Was John Singer Sargent? Meet the Edwardian Era’s Favorite Portraitist

Artists hope to achieve fame in their own lifetime. American expatriate John Singer Sargent was among those who could claim this rarified status. In the late 19th and early 20th century, few painters were more sought after than him. The rich of Gilded Age America and Edwardian London commissioned portraits by the renowned artist after having been drawn in by the natural warmth of Sargent's treatment of each subject.

Read Article

Cityscape Photography
February 14, 2021

Photographer Reveals a Cyberpunk View of Tokyo by Wandering the Neon-Lit Streets at Night

City nights have long enchanted artists. Vincent Van Gogh once painted a Café Terrace at Night, with unidentifiable guests taking late-night libations under golden light. Modern photographers too are drawn to the dramatic illuminations and shadowy figures of urban evenings. French photographer and artistic director Aishy has found inspiration in the neon-paneled streets of Tokyo.

Read Article

Science
February 2, 2021

Dinosaur Fossil of a Titanosaur Discovered in Argentina May Belong to the Largest Land Animal Ever

The region of Patagonia is known for its beautiful vistas; but among paleontologists, the region is also known for its fossils. Rich deposits of bones have revealed the presence of giant dinosaurs who once walked the river deltas of the region. A recent paper published in Cretaceous Research has announced an exciting new find from the Neuquén Province in Argentina, which lies in the northwest part of Patagonia.

Read Article

My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.